sending apologies for mistakenly rescheduling ARTafterDARK in last week's scoop (which is really tonight, fyi) along with winning wishes to sabrina for sunday's hoku awards! we have been craving old fashioned chocolate frosted cake so i just may attempt smitten kitchen's yummy delight since the mister will have three days off to help me tackle every sweet bite.

the holiday weekend brings two chances to say hello to nyc-based designer bliss lau who is back on island for a fashion 411 hosted by hifi & hawaii red magazine followed by a sunday peek of her ballerina-inspired fall collection.

it's been quite some time since bliss lau was featured so, with the new season of project runway debuting tomorrow night, it seems most appropriate to revisit one of h|h's favorite parsons alums from hawaii. when i last checked in with bliss two years ago, she had just introduced the debut pieces from her provocative jewelry collection, and the handbag line that first launched her eponymous label went on hiatus while she focused on expanding her lineup of edgy links.

while my everyday rarely, if ever, presents moments to rock such fabulous style moxie, i continue to be besotted with the collection's glamorous versatility (many pieces can be styled in various ways) and love how each piece elevates jewelry from a lovely afterthought to artfully elegant armor adding a little mystery to the most humble of outfits.

behind-the-scenes, bliss approaches every design (many unisex) intent on balancing gravity, weight and proportion into a piece made to draw the eye and decorate oft-forgotten body parts like the nape of your neck, shoulders or waistline. nappa leather, vintage swarovski crystals, or black diamonds accent carefully constructed chains to become a fetching take on modern adornment referencing muses as diverse as african tribal design, the medieval chainwork of the knights templar, and the art deco razzle dazzle of jazz age beauties.

art deco cage dress

art deco ziegfield

templar

wright * hugmetight

{design notes}

how has growing up in hawaii influenced your designs?i think that being from hawaii in general will forever influence my perspective on the world and life, sharing and living. natural materials, when i was young, my mom cathryn lau who is an art teacher at punahou, used to soak the husks of our palm trees and we would make baskets with them. my aunties taught me to make haku leis and feather hat bands. some of these skills come out in my daily work when i make jewelry.

what is your definition of good design?good design solves a design problem simply, easily and with sophistication. a very hard thing to do.

little moments of bliss that recharge your soul?i ride my bike everyday. i braid my hair everyday and buy fresh flowers from the market to pin in my hair (okay so maybe the hawaii never left me!) . . . all of those things recharge my soul.

local delights that are a must in your beach picnic basket?oh wow.... the beach in new york? i'd like you to show me anyone from the islands who would even bother!

pay it forward with a few words of wisdom that were passed on to you:always be true to yourself!

mahalo bliss!

alas, no hawaii stockists yet so hele over to the online shop to peek and purchase bliss's latest collection. the price tag ranges from $132 to over $600 depending on the complexity of the design, and all jewelry is made-to-order in bliss's nyc atelier with a six week turnaround.

and, happy news for handbag fans! bliss reports that she has a few upcoming collaborations including a limited edition jewelry line debuting in france this fall and a new leather goods collection with dakota collective launching later this year.

p.s. click back tomorrow for a peek of the two designers representing hawaii on project runway!

hope everyone had a very happy halloween filled with more treats than tricks! peeks from the fall 08 collection of nyc-based accessories designer bliss lau recently made its way online, and this time around i am swooning over the addition of italian leather accents in the autumn edition of bliss's expanding jewelry line.

the new minimal (and unisex) designs are a spinoff from the main collection which features brass links coaxed into a variety of architecturally inspired pieces to embolden basic wardrobe staples with a very avant-garde meets art deco flourish. and, while most of us have no place to rock such a downtown look, it's definitely something to consider for anyone with a healthy dose of fashion moxie.

jungle * anagram * tootsie mini

bliss made her name crafting sublime leather handbags and this season is all about neutral colorways which wash over playfully designed purses and rugged carryalls. and, if you are in the market for a bag that will hold its own season after season, you can get a bit more bang for your buck with the large anagram design which sports convertible straps that transform it from tote to hobo to a messenger style with a few adjustments.

select styles from the fall collection are currently stocked in the online shop and can also be found at riches hawaii at kahala mall. click over to the website to locate mainland & international stockists.

local girl bliss lau is flying in from nyc and stopping by riches kahala tomorrow afternoon for a trunk show co-hosted by smart magazine! enjoy a sneak peek of the spring collection of luxe handbags and belts known for their eye catching silhouettes and exceptional construction.

1/lattice * 2/bijoux * 3/lucky fortune * 4/disco accordian * 5/decoy

6/thin chain * 7/cobra * 8/spawn * 9/infinity

as an added bonus, everyone who makes a purchase during the trunk show will be entered to win a bliss lau handbag. designs will be 10% off during the event but if you bring in school supplies to donate to the children's alliance your discount will get bumped up to 20%.